Since signiing upto Usborne in July I havent sold a single book and have now decided to give up. What do I do with my kit? Does anyone know as its just sat here taking up room.

Have you already reached your Flying Start date - the twelve week anniversary of your sign-up? Don't forget that if you haven't ordered £100 value by this date you'll have to pay the full retail value of that starter kit, retrospectively. So even if you're almost there perhaps it's worth one last attempt at passing the leaflets and special offers around friends and family or hosting your own party.

You could use the books from your starter kit as gifts for friends and family's children, donate them to a local school / preschool / children's centre, or try to sell them somehow. New organisers will sometimes buy them for stock - but only at a fraction of RRP since they can buy direct from Usborne at a good rate anyhow and that sounts towards their own Flying start volumes etc.

I'm currently putting together some info to send to local schools and wondered if anyone could tell me if there is a letter template for a general introduction to the schools to introduce yourself and the business?

Also has anyone else done this and what info did you include? I'm wanting to send the packs out and then follow up a week later with a phone call to hopefully arrange a meeting.

They aren't releasing the FYT 2009 calendar in English this year. Apparently there were so many left to sell off last year they've decided against it.
What a shame!!! I had people waiting!

thats a bit of a shame, you would have thought they would have just made up fewer of them instead! Would have been a nice gift to give to people who hold events in the new year.

I ordered hamper things from that website you mentioned and they are due delivery tomorrow, I am so excited to see what they are like, plus it only works out as an extra £5.00 for customers to have their order made up into a hamper so hopefully will get a few people interested!!

Cant wait till sunday for my christmas fair, everyone has confirmed they are coming and all the stalls are 'sold' and I have advertised like a looney!!

I am going to have a go at doing some lucky dips and have got a great bargain on ebay 60 brand new usborne books for £25 including delivery!! no body else wanted them so waiting for them to arrive (have been told they posted them today!!). I am planning on doing a young childrens one with phonic books, sticker books and any books which are out of stock/ not being printed and th

then an older child's lucky dip with all the books I am going to recieve. If I charge £2 a go and all prizes are worth at least £3.99 I should get people interested. Not looking forward to wrapping all the books though!!

[QUOTE=
I am going to have a go at doing some lucky dips and have got a great bargain on ebay 60 brand new usborne books for £25 including delivery!! no body else wanted them so waiting for them to arrive (have been told they posted them today!!). I am planning on doing a young childrens one with phonic books, sticker books and any books which are out of stock/ not being printed and th[/QUOTE]

Hi
I am doing my first event shortly and love the idea of the 'lucky dips' - when you do them do you just decorate a box to put them in! or do you use something else?
Thanks
ALison

Hi
I am doing my first event shortly and love the idea of the 'lucky dips' - when you do them do you just decorate a box to put them in! or do you use something else?
Thanks
ALison

I am thinking of using wrapping paper to cover them and I am going to make some decorations from the usborne books, hoping it will get the parents to buy the books!! I will let you know how I get on as im not the most crafty of people!!

Message for Kate G

I know were not on the same 'team' but that doesn't bother me - if you like I am more than happy to loan you my banner and large display stand for your school fair as long as I don't have a booking that day - I'm just along the A34 from you (and sat next to you at training in Warrington which is where I bought my banner!). Also got some laminated A3 posters for fiction titles if this helps!

I know were not on the same 'team' but that doesn't bother me - if you like I am more than happy to loan you my banner and large display stand for your school fair as long as I don't have a booking that day - I'm just along the A34 from you (and sat next to you at training in Warrington which is where I bought my banner!). Also got some laminated A3 posters for fiction titles if this helps!

Karen, nice to speak to you again! That's really kind and much appreciated. I will be buying a banner but if I can delay it for the moment that would be perfect. My book fair is on 13 November, late afternoon/early evening - does that fit in with you?

I made bunting - laminated triangles each with a letter on all rainbow colours spelling out Usborne Books at Home then just strung them up.
I think if people see you can make things they're more likely to want to join as it doesn't look expensive